On the automorphisms of designs constructed from finite simple groups

Abstract

Here we study the automorphism groups of $1$-designs constructed from finite nonabelian simple groups by using two methods presented in Moori (Information Security, Coding Theory and Related Combinatorics, 2011). We obtain some general results for both and improve one of these methods. In an application to the sporadic Mathieu groups $M_{n}$, we are able to retrieve the Steiner systems $S(t,t+3,n)$ where $(n,t)\in\{(22,3),(23,4),(24,5)\}$.